Josh Gerben Explains Trump Org’s Airport Trademark Filings to NPR

The Palm Beach International Airport has officially been renamed the Donald J. Trump International Airport.

NPR and Josh Gerben discuss the related airport trademark filings made by Trump Org and what the licensing agreement looks like. 

“It’s unusual,” says D.C. trademark attorney, Josh Gerben.

“This airport could’ve been renamed Donald J. Trump International Airport, and Trump Org did not need to own trademarks for this to happen.”

A Trump Org spokesperson stated that it’s because the Trump brand is frequently targeting by infringers. However it means that Palm Beach County needs permission from Trump to use his name for the airport. “Because otherwise, they could theoretically be in violation of these trademarks that Trump Org had filed,” said Gerben.

While the licensing agreement explicitly prohibits Trump from making money off of merchandise sold at the airport, it says nothing about merch sold outside of the airport. “Based on my reading of the agreement, it would seem that if Trump Org wanted to sell merchandise online, that they would be able to do so without any connection to the airport,” Gerben notes.

“If they don’t like some language that describes Trump or his presidency, they’ll have to rewrite it.”

Source: Treisman, Rachel. https://www.npr.org. “A Florida airport is officially renamed for Trump. What does he stand to gain?”. 9 July 2026.